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Glove Collecting Information

Collection Ideas

Most glove collectors I know have a unique approach or collecting goal - some of the different glove collecting quests include:

      One glove/mitt from each decade
      One glove/mitt from each glove manufacturer
      Gloves endorsed by Hall of Fame members
      Gloves endorsed by MVPs, Gold Glovers, or those with 500 homers
      Glove endorsers for a particular team
      Glove endorsers for a particular team for a particular year
      The glove model(s) used as a child
      Rare or unique gloves

Let me know what your interests are and I'll contact you as gloves come available.

Advice to New Collectors

My humble advice to new collectors includes:

      Don't sell your father's or grandfather's glove
      Review The GloveCollector's Pocket Price Guide before you invest/trade
      Trade the valuable gloves you don't like for valuable gloves you do like
      If you are going to overpay, overpay on condition rather than rarity
      Never use "glove oil" on a glove -- it stains, adds weight, and hardens over time

Dubious Glove Descriptions

I've seen some pretty interesting glove descriptions over the years (especially from auction sellers). Make sure to ask additional questions when the description includes:

      Great condition for its age. This is dangerously subjective.
      Great display model. Flaws on back or stiff as a board.
      I believe it to be ... or I was told it was a ...
      Is easily repairable. If so then why didn't they do it?

Be careful out there ... some aren't as scrupulous as they should be. For the record, the following flaws should definitely be described if listing something on ebay, regardless of the age of the glove:

      Ink on the front, back or inside.
      Cracking, holes, seam separations, or tears on the front, back, or inside.
      Broken laces or obvious repairs.
      Odors other than leather.
      Stiff or dried out gloves.

Character Gloves

I think one of the best things about glove collecting is that unlike card collecting, even some of the worst condition gloves have value as display items (though don't pay too much for these). I have several "character" gloves in my collection:

Glove Age Tells

Gloves have evolved over the years. This section is an attempt to help you date your treasures. Keep in mind that this is an over-generalization ... there are many exceptions to every guideline.

Most endorsed gloves were distributed when the player was established. Therefore, by researching the player's career in the library you should be able to get a pretty good date range.

Pre 50s Fielders Gloves

Fundamentally, gloves that have no lacing between the four fingers (or three fingers) are considered pre 1950s and are known as splitfingers. The next criteria to help narrow down the era -- for adult sized gloves -- is the type of webbing between the thumb and index finger. Again, the following guidelines are definitely overgeneralizations.

	Full Web (Pre 1920s) -- a 2" or large web physically sewn to the thumb and index		One Ince Web (1910s/20s) -- a 1" web physically sewn to the thumb and index
	Vertical Tunnel Loops (usually 1930s) -- one vertical tunnel physically sewn to the thumb, and one to the index fingerwith a piece of lace running through them. Less common (though not that rare) is to have two sets of loops on each finger with lacing running through them (usually 1920s)		Tunnel Loops (Late 30s/40s) -- metal grommets inserted into the sides of the index finger and thumb, typically that have horizontal tunnel webs attached by leather lace. Often times the leather loops are missing (a splitfinger with grommets is the key)
	Three Tunnel Loops (Mid to late 1940s) -- same as previous but with three loops attached by leather lace		Full Web (Late 1940s/1950s) -- same as four but it has one 3" leather web attached by leather lace.

Catcher's and 1B Mitts

Mitts with buckle back straps (like a belt buckle) are typically considered pre 40s. Usually, the thinner the buckle the older the mitt.

Pre 40s Buckleback Catcher's Mitt

Pre 40s Buckleback Oven Style 1B mitt

Unique Gloves (but not considered rare)

	Two Fingers (Late 1940s/early 50s) -- Fielders gloves with two fingers and a thumb with lace between the two fingers		Three Fingers (Late 1940s, 50s & 60s) -- Fielders gloves with three fingers and a thumb with lace between the three fingers
	"Trapper" or "Claw" style 1B mitts (Late 1940s/60s) -- 1B mitts with three main sections (your thumb goes in one and your four fingers go in another with the third for cradling the ball. Cross lacing holds the three sections together

Reference Books

The two guides that I personally use the most are:

1) Vintage BB Glove Pocket Price Guide, #8 -- this helps me determine value
2) Vintage BB Glove Catalog Source Book -- to determine age and maker

Both are available from Joe Phillips (the GloveCollector) at 972-699-1808. I also subscribe to Joe's bimonthly newsletter.

Glove Cleaning

	Like many collectors, I really enjoy cleaning/restoring baseball gloves. I was a little hesitant, however, to add this section because of the subjectivity involved. I know of many talented restorers who recommend methods/products different than those I describe. One last warning before I go into more details: many gloves will turn a darker color, you will probably lose some silver, endorsements may fade, and you may end up breaking a lace or two. If that doesn't dissuade you then proceed at your own risk.
	The product I use most to clean/condition gloves is Saddle Soap paste (Fiebings purchased at Tandy Leather). I take a very thorough and methodical approach similar to waxing a car or shining shoes using a flimsy terry cloth rag. I rotate the cloth often to minimize friction.
	If a glove is very dry prior to or after cleaning, I'll rub a little Vaseline thoroughly into the leather to help moisterize. Many collectors swear by this technique, but others prefer other moisturizing productions.

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